Baffled and dismayed over the recent standoff between the Indian and Chinese troops at Ladakh region, the families of the Indian armed personnel have raised serious concerns over the conduct of the Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane and questioned his ill-directed priorities.
The recent scuffle between Indian and Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in the disputed border region of Ladakh caused a huge embarrassment to New Delhi as it evidently exposed the Indian army’s professional competency and preparedness for the adversity.
Though the exchange of accusations still continues but the Indian government has admitted to have suffered fatalities among its armed personnel at the hands of the Chinese troops at Galwan Valley.
Reportedly the number was much higher but the Indian government conceded merely 20 deaths and 76 injuries to its troops.
In addition to that, a few of Indian soldiers were also held by the Chinese forces but were later released.
The humiliating defeat at the hands of the Chinese troops raised eyebrows and triggered serious concerns among the Indian armed personnel and their families in India with regard to their safety and spirit compromised by the imprudent decision making at the top political and military level.
In an “Open letter to the Chief of the Defence Services” published by the “The Times of India” on June 20, the families of serving and retired personnel of the Indian armed forces grilled the Indian Army Chief about the losses, they were inflicted upon by China at Ladakh border.
The families asked the Indian Army Chief to bring forward the facts about the Ladakh clashes.
They also questioned his integrity, his politically motivated appointment, his undue intervention in hierarchically devised and executed military strategies.
Below is the text of the ‘Open letter to the Chief of the Defence Services’:
“Dear General,
We the families of serving and retired personnel of the armed forces stand steadfast with our soldiers, our army. No, we are not scared; yes, we are praying for the safety of our men. But we need to know about what happened in Galwan Valley. I do understand there are reasons why strategic decisions or outcomes are not shared in the public domain. But with a super active social media, so many contradicting statements and horrifying photographs doing the rounds, where do we go, whom do we trust?
– How did we suffer so many casualties, including that of a Commanding Officer, if there were no intrusions by China?
– Not only were our soldiers barbarically killed, their bodies were mutilated. Why?
– Did they enter the enemy territory on their own (as claimed by China) and got attacked in defence?
– Why us there a new spin to the Ladakh Disaster, everyday?
– Will we ever know the truth?
– Did our soldiers fell into the trap laid by their own?
Our soldiers are not cannon fodder, they cannot be butchered for diplomatic gains. As crazy as it may sound, more than the Chinese military, it is you that we are warier of. Your policies, your directives and so ever evident step-motherly treatment to your very own is what concerns us more. When the post of the Chief of the Defence Staff was created and it was communicated that all the tri-services, Indian Army, Navy, and Airforce will come under one umbrella so that India is better protected, it was reassuring. We felt safe more, on all the frontiers.
But what is happening is completely opposite. We are facing a tough time both internally as well as externally. Even though every citizen of the country stands with our soldiers, the members of our armed forces are not in the highest of their sprits, because of your interventions to a large extent. The Ladakh disaster made it more than evident how the various Headquarters of the Indian army across the hierarchy stood clipped of all their powers, because of your constant interference. The whispers in the corridors are now the screams to save our soldiers from any such fiascos in the future. We lost our men in an unsoldierly manner and there are major cover-ups after cover-ups to hide the ground reality. Their blood could be on the hands of the political decision-makers and on YOURS too, to a large extent!
It certainly must be a nice feeling to have a powerful Godfather in the govt from the same village as yours. Someone, who protects you, gets you promoted superseding the other best, has a cushy appointment custom made for you so that you can serve your country for a longer period. Fantastic! Not everyone is so blessed.
With such a strong connection in the government and the incredible power it wields, imagine how beautifully the organisation would have benefited, if only, you STILL considered yourself truly part of this family of olive greens. But you preferred to play the part of the boss who loved to strip his own, of their basics.
For once please put a hand on your heart and reflect-
– Did you do justice to the responsibilities and privileges showered on you?
– Did you stand up for your brothers in arms?– Did you not let the politicians make you the scapegoat and get some decisions made which invariably harmed the organisation?
– Did you not fail our soldiers in Ladakh?
I am sure you know the answers. Ever considered putting your foot firmly on the ground for your boys fighting it out and getting killed in sub-zero temperatures with not even adequate protective gear. Yes, then go ahead do it, we stand in solidarity with you.
No?
What about resigning on moral grounds, then?
While we stand with our soldiers and will not bat an eyelid when they go for a war, we request you to ensure that they are not cheated, not asked to go unarmed or don’t use the weapon, we would certainly not want them to be butchered the way they were by China.
No!!
Let Ladakh be the gamechanger….
Jai Hind.”
